Educational Assistant

This course provides an overview of what educational assistants (EAs) do and how they fit into the school system. Students learn about the delineation of roles among teachers, administrators, clinicians, and support personnel. They also explore ethical and professional standards, including confidentiality, duty of care, professional boundaries, documentation practices, and compliance with relevant legislation.

The course focuses on working as part of a team to support diverse learners and carry out Student Specific Plans (SSPs). Students also build job-ready skills and create a professional portfolio to prepare for employment as an educational assistant.

This course helps educational assistants understand how children grow, learn, and behave. Students analyze development across four primary domains: cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. They learn how to recognize typical and atypical development in school-aged children and understand how environmental stressors can cause students to struggle with focus or self-regulation. The course also covers practical strategies to support different learning styles and emphasizes working with teachers to adjust lessons and classroom supports based on a student’s developmental stage.

This course delves into the historical development of inclusive education. Students look at diverse exceptionalities and the legislative mandates that ensure every child has a seat at the table. The course prepares students to work within a neurodiversity-affirming framework, focusing on a student’s strengths while providing the necessary scaffolds for their challenges.

Students learn how to work respectfully within a team, follow legal and professional guidelines, and support learners with conditions such as autism, ADHD, and FASD. The course also shows students how to help teachers carry out accommodations in a Student-Specific Plan (SSP).

This course teaches prospective EAs to observe learners carefully and write clear, objective notes about what they see. Students learn how to record behaviour and progress without bias, using tools like anecdotal notes and ABC charts, to support teacher assessments. The course highlights the distinction between observation and evaluation, stressing the EA’s responsibility to maintain professional confidentiality and adhere to FIPPA and PHIA protocols.

Students learn how to ensure that documentation complies with school board policies and legal standards. They also learn how objective observations support the planning process and the ongoing review of SSPs. As part of the course, students observe and report on a real-life scenario.

This course looks at how to use technology to support learning in today’s classrooms. Students learn how to use typical office software and various classroom technology tools to provide high-level assistance to both teachers and learners.

The course also introduces assistive and adaptive technology that removes barriers to learning for students with diverse needs. Students learn how to create digital social stories to support social-emotional transitions and classroom navigation. They also explore how new tools like AI can be used to adapt worksheets and make learning materials more accessible and personalized.

This course focuses on proactive strategies for fostering positive social development and safe learning environments. It introduces students to the nervous system regulation and co-regulation techniques based on Polyvagal theory. Students practise safe de-escalation techniques and learn how to respond appropriately during challenging situations while staying within their role and professional boundaries.

The course aligns with provincial standards and includes training in Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) and WEVAS. By the end of the course, students can recognize when a child is stressed or overwhelmed, use calm and supportive strategies to help regulate behaviour, and work with teachers to follow behaviour support plans in inclusive classrooms.

This course prepares students to support learners with core academic content under the teacher’s direction. Students learn practical strategies to help build literacy skills based on the science of reading and other theories, as well as foundational math skills using hands-on tools to boost understanding and confidence. They learn to differentiate instruction for different types of learners, including English language learners and students with varying abilities.

The course examines how to provide the right level of help so students can become more independent, while working closely with teachers and sharing observations about student progress within the limits of the EA role.

This course teaches students how to respond to health emergencies. Students receive certification in Emergency First Aid and CPR Level C and learn how to follow medical care plans for conditions such as allergies, asthma, and seizures. The course also introduces mental health awareness and self-care strategies to help EAs stay well and manage stress at work.

EAs learn their legal and ethical responsibilities when providing personal or health-related support under supervision. By the end of the course, students are prepared to respond calmly and correctly during medical emergencies while following school policies, safety protocols, and privacy laws.

This course helps students understand how trauma and family experiences can affect a child’s behaviour, learning, and brain development. Students learn how stressful experiences, such as neglect, poverty, or family challenges, can impact how children feel, act, and cope at school. They learn how to respond with patience, consistency, and care to help children feel safe and supported.

Students learn what it means to be trauma-informed in the school setting and how adverse childhood experiences can literally change how a child’s brain develops. They also learn how to apply the four R’s: Realize the impact of trauma, Recognize the signs, Respond with safety, and Resist “re-traumatizing” the student.

The course also explores methods to manage dysregulation with compassion and teaches prospective EAs how to keep themselves healthy while doing this emotional work.

This course explores the diverse histories and perspectives of Canada’s Indigenous communities. Grounded in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action (62 & 63), students learn about the impact of residential schools and the importance of fostering culturally safe classrooms. The course includes mandatory Treaty Education and examines strategies for supporting multilingual learners and newcomer families. Students explore their own potential biases through reflective practice and consider the role of the EA in creating equitable, inclusive learning communities.

This is a capstone supervised placement in a school setting where students apply theoretical knowledge in a real-world environment. Candidates will work under the direction of a classroom or resource teacher to assist with instructional support, behaviour management, and daily classroom duties. Candidates demonstrate professional ethics, initiative, and the ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Throughout the practicum, students receive formal education on their job readiness and ability to adhere to school board policies and provincial legislation. This intensive field experience ensures graduates are prepared for the professional demands of the EA role.